Match Report

Withymoor v Solihull Ladies

Sunday 20th April 2008

Birmingham County Womens League – Division 1

Solihull went into the game knowing that a win would probably secure promotion and a slip up would allow other teams back into the running.

The game kicked off on a very boggy pitch and it was Solihull who did the pressuring from the start. A great chance was created in the first few minutes when Shauna Towey found herself one-on-one with the Withymoor goalkeeper. The keeper rushed out and just managed to get something on the low shot to deny Solihull the opener. Withymoor responded by using the long ball over the top for their very quick centre forward to run on to, but the Solihull defence were able to match them for pace and coped admirably.

In the 8th minute Withymoor won a corner. The accurate ball in dropped right in the centre of the 6 yard box and was met by a fine Withmoor header to put them 1 – 0 up.

Solihull took the restart and again started pressing but some good last minute defending from Withymoor meant Solihull could not get a foothold in the game. Then in the 27th minute a foray into the box from Shauna resulted in her being brought down. Shauna stepped up to take the penalty and coolly slipped it past the keeper.

The game then became very scrappy with players from both sides aimlessly clearing the ball and lacking quality in possession. In the 38th minute it was Withymoor who took the lead, again from a cross from the right hand side, for the centre forward to have a tap in. Solihull pushed forward but without any cutting edge or conviction, and found themselves trailing 2 – 1 at half time.

The game restarted and it appeared that Solihull had not learning from the mistakes of the first half. Rather than putting the ball out for throw in’s, Solihull conceded a succession of corners and paid the price. Always dangerous from set-pieces Withymoor scored another header from yet another precise corner leaving Solihull 3-1 down after 50 minutes.

After the 3rd goal Solihull finally began to put Withymoor under a lot of pressure and create chances. Shauna went the closest with a cracking 25 yrd shot which beat the keeper, only to be denied by the woodwork. Danielle also came close as she took a corner which was cleared of the line via the post by a Withymoor defender – it was just going to be one of those days!!

Overall Solihull were probably the better team, but after not taking their chances and conceding too many corners which Withymoor have honed to perfection, they left themselves with a mountain to climb.

Full Time : 3 – 1 (Half Time : 2 – 1)

Man of the match : Tricia Samuels – battling in midfield

Team : Steph Witherspoon, Dianne Baker, Jemma Canning, Rachel Fowkes, Michelle Witherspoon, Denise Corfield, Hollie Chambers, Trish Samuels, Louisa Ward (Danni Hill), Shauna Towey (1), Katie Hipwell (Heather White)

Subs not used : None

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